Important Events

1. Initially 222 HCC members signed up for the transplant from HCC to Sugar Land.
2. Check writeup from John.
3. First service was conducted in May 4^th, 1997 at Williams Trace Baptist Church.
4. June 1997 attendance jumped to 452 (285 Chinese service, 167 English service)
5. July 1997 attendance jumped to 464 (285 Chinese service, 179 English service).
6. Services were conducted at Williams Trace Baptist Church till Summer of 1998 then moved in to Lexington Creek Elementary School.

1. Ground Breaking date was September 6^th, 1997
2. Missouri City condemned the land at Flat Bank Road and gave us an entrance now Knights Court.
3. Phase I budget with $2,500,000 for a 27,000 square foot multi-purpose building.
4. Phase I Architect was Mr. Paul Lodholz and the Constructor was R&D Constructors, Inc. Our brothers Roberto Lay-Su and Daniel Wong were principal owners of R&D Constructors.
5. FBCC Phase I Building Committee Chairman was Mr. Andy Au, Project Manager was Kenneth Woo.

It was held on October 24^th, 1998.

Special guests included:

1. Mayor, City of Missouri City – Mr. Allen Owen
2. Mayor, City of Sugar Land – Mr. Dean Hrbacek
3. Houston City Council member – Ms. Martha Wong
4. Director General of the Taipei Economic & Cultural office, Houston – Mr. David Liu

Attending Pastors:

1. Rev. Brian Lam
2. Rev. David K. Chan
3. Rev. Fred Tow
4. Rev. Moses Chow
5. Rev. Ed Lee
6. Rev. Calvin Wong

1. In January 2000, FBCC became autonomous from HCC and transitioned to a Cell Group Based church.
2. Amy Chu from Hong Kong visited FBCC in Fall 2001 to observe and to provide assistance for our transition.

In August 2001 a presentation of Phase II by the Building Committee was made to and approved by the Church Council.

The Phase II Building Committee was composed of:

1. Building Committee Chairman – Tony Lai
2. Building Committee Financial Chairman – Peter Yau

Architect – Kenneth Woo

Constructor – Atlantics Builders

The plan on Phase II was a 34,000 sq. ft. building with:

1. A second floor chapel
2. A youth center
3. A senior center
4. New pastoral offices and classrooms

The building was to be built at an initial total lump sum cost of $3,250,000.

1. In January 2002, Pastor Ed Lee promoted the Multi-Ethnic Ministry with a Mission Statement “Boldly Embracing the Many Faces and Races of our Community for Christ”, in order to embrace people of different ethnic background.
2. It was followed by a proposal of Name change by dropping the word中国from 福遍中国教会in order to match the English name of Fort Bend Community Church.
3. After much deliberation, it was voted down by the Church Council.

1. The Tree of Life School was established as a ministry and to service the community.
2. More from Matt Warren later.
3. In February 2008, Matt Warren informed FBCC that:
4. The board of Tree of Life Christian Academy has decided to close the school after the end of 2008 spring semester.
5. The board has informed teachers of this decision, and will schedule a meeting with parents in the week of 2/18.
6. At this point of time, FBCC does not have enough manpower and resources to fully support a Christian school.

FBCC council asked the board of TOL to handle it carefully to minimum the impact to parents and children.

1. In February 2005, Sunday School Equipping Plan was changed from small group base to curriculum base program.
2. Initially it was not well accepted due to being accustomed to Cell based Sunday School program.
3. The Equipping Program.

Resignation of Pastor Ed Lee, Children Minister Frank Tan, and Minister Steve Kun

1. During 2006 -2007 three pastoral staff decided to leave FBCC within a year’s period.
2. Ed Lee decided to leave, with his own church Mosaic Community Church to concentrate on the promotion of multi-ethnic ministry.
3. Children Minister Frank Tan resigned.
4. Minister Steve Kun has different theological outlook on the subject of Holy Spirit and decided leave, setting up a small church in Sugar Land.
5. This leaving of three pastoral staff is unprecedented and disrupted the growth of FBCC for a short period.

FBCC position on “Practice of Tongue and Prophecy” and 16 point statement on the work of the Holy Spirit.

1. Minister Kun’s resignation was due to his different view on charismatic issues.
2. Pastor Brian responded to Minister Steve Kun’s resignation with the following statements on the Holy Spirit:
   • FBCC position on the “Discerning the Holy Spirit and Practice of Tongues at FBCC” was presented to the July 2003 Council.
   • A sixteen (16) point statement on the work of the Holy Spirit was drafted by the Elders team, Pastoral team and the Planning Committee.

Resources Available:
Discerning the Spirit and Practice of Tongues at FBCC, by Pastor Brian, June 26, 2003. 
Sixteen (16) points statement on the work of the Holy Spirit

1. Pastor Brian revisited the 10 year plan:
   • Making Disciples, Developing Family, Reaching All People
   • FBCC zone based implementations: Attract, Keep, Commit, Send.
   • Potential long term meeting points oversees: China, Taiwan, Germany, Brazil.
   • 3 meeting points in Houston: China town, Rice Student center, Senior Home – Ahepa.

1. Ten Year Plan (2007 – 2017) by Pastor Brian. (See attached 2007 Ministry Plan).

Master Plan Committee (2007 to 2017) to look into the future 10 years

1. In February 2007, Master Plan Committee was formed to look into the future 10 years of FBCC.
2. In March 2008, the Master Planning Committee report:
   1. Completed the studies on gym and parking lot expansions.
   2. The current SUP (Special Use Permit) allows maximum of 4 buildings: Phase I – 450 capacity, Phase II – 200 capacity, Phase III and Phase IV.
   3. A provision clause for a second ingress/egress to Hiway 6.
   4. Hiring an architect to layout the master program and the Phase III rendering.
   5. In November 2009 Pastor Brian updated the Master Plan to the Council
      • God gave us this land in 1996 with very low cost.
      • In 1998 Phase I completed and moved in with 682 people. It was filled immediately.

In 2003, we completed Phase II which is 44,000 sq ft. But we still don’t have enough rooms for all the small group activities, Sunday School classes, and our children ministry has hit the space issues in the last few years due the ministry growth.

1. FBCC will gear towards evangelism in our area like Riverstone and New Territory. This will bring more people to our church.
2. The main purpose of Phase III: 1. Children need a facility, 2. Adult Education needs more class rooms.
3. By 2014, the estimated number of children will hit 400 and total congregation 2,000. We need a building that can hold 400 children.

Once we have a facility for children, more families will come. We will approach 2,000 people in Sunday services.

1. Studio Red Architect – Trung Doan presented the physical layout:
2. Studio Red designed the phase III based on current and future FBCC children, youth, and Adult Sunday school attendance.
3. Capacity for growth is not limited by land.

Parking Space

1. Currently FBCC has 553 parking spaces.
2. Phase III will add 266 additional spaces to the current 553 with a total of 819 parking spaces.
3. A drive way loop with no dead-ends will be created around the campus.
4. There will be another exit on the Senior road.
5. There will be room for flexibility of growth between buildings.
6. The current canopy system will be expanded.

Scheme A: 40,140 sq. ft. to accommodate 250 children.

1. First Floor – 2 check-in areas
2. Second Floor – with 4,050 sq. ft. empty shell space for future offices.

Scheme C: 53,280 sq. ft. to accommodate 350 children.

1. The security point will be at the doors.
2. Corridors will be wider than normal.
3. Shell space can be built later to accommodate future needs.
   • The council voted to approve the FBCC Master Plan/Phase III proposal: 22 YES 1 NO

The Phase III project has been a 5 year long challenging church project. It came at the worst recession time facing rising cost of material and labor, difficulties imposed by the City and delayed by Center Point Power Company

In March 2008 the Master Planning Committee recommended hiring of an Architect to layout the master program and Phase III rendering. After a year’s planning, the Master Plan was presented to the Council with the following recommendation:  Phase III – Children’s facility; Phase IV – Worship Center. The Church Council approved the planning for Phase III and authorized Studio Red Architects to update and perform the feasibility study of Phase III.

Pastor Lam shared his vision on Phase III in the November 2009 Council meeting – Phase I was completed in 1998 with 682 people moving in and filled the building immediately. Phase II was completed in 2003 with 44,000 sq. ft. but do not have enough rooms for small groups activities, Sunday School classes, and Children Ministry. The main purpose for Phase III will be for Children Ministry and Adult Education needs. The new building will be designed to hold 400 children. With the new Children facility, more families will be attracted to FBCC and we should approach 2000 people in Sunday services. In the same Council meeting, Studio Red (Mr. Trung Doan) presented the initial design on Phase III based on current and future needs, leaving room for flexibility of growth between Phase III and Phase I, increase of parking spaces, creating a driveway loop around the FBCC campus.

Council approved the Master Plan and Phase III proposal in November 2009.

Phase III Building Committee was established with participation by all three congregations:

• Chairman – Peter Yau
• Architectural Committee – Peter Yau, Kenneth Woo, James Lee
• Promotional Committee – Alfred Lim, Edmond Lim
• Finance Committee – Stephen Yu, Eric Chan, Renshi Tseng, Daniel Lau, Grenger Chang
• Capital Campaign Committee – Jeff Shi, Daniel Wong
• Construction Committee – Regan Tam, Jennifer Chen, Tony Chao, Shang Tsai, Esmond Li, Jimmy Cheung, Connie Joe.
• Prayer Committee – Kenneth Huang

This committee served with a united heart, totally engaged, donating their time and money to our church. This has been the highlight of a most difficult Phase III project.

The construction company was Atlantic Building Consultant, with Shida Chen acting as the Construction Superintendent, General Foreman and Foreman. His dedication and long workings hours are much appreciated.

The theme for Phase III was “Build for Future”: Investing in the Next Generation, Reaching our Community with our Gospel, Making disciples for Jesus Christ.

Building for the Future will be more than just a physical structure, it will be a rich spiritual experience, promote unity through-out the entire church, our Lord to be glorified. The Children facility will be designed with two worship centers, Center 1: K-1 grade, Center 2: 2-5 grade, both to be used as activities centers and playrooms. The Phase III design will include converting part of Phase I for Youth Program and Youth worship center.

Studio Red Architects won the programming studies of the Education Building and the bid on Phase III design. The initial design of the Education Building was a two story 45,435 sq. ft. building with an empty shell on the second floor for future adult class rooms. The initial total indicated cost was $5,500,000 which can be sub-divided into: Building $4.00MM, Architectural Design $0.35MM, Miscellaneous $0.85MM, Parking Addition $0.30MM.

The Phase III project went through a fund raising strategy of members pledges, issuance of interests bearing Church Notes, and then obtaining a bank loan for the balance. The Church Council set the example on fund-raising, approximate $400,000 was raised within one week by the Council members.  The pledge of $1,145,565 was raised from 307 members. The amount of interests bearing Church Note issued was at a total of $2,017,000.

The initial project schedule: Congregational Vote April 2010, Capital Campaign 2010 – 2011, Ground Breaking October 2010, Move-in Fall 2011.

Through the advice of the Constructor and also facing the rising cost of construction material, the empty shell on the second floor of the Education Building was decided to build-out with the approval from the Church Council. The final building design is 50,700 sq, ft. with a total indicated cost of $6,284,000.

The Education Building (Phase III) final cost was at $5,615,424 due to a 3.2% overrun, and the final project cost was $6,528,900 due to a 5.03% overrun. The cost overrun was due to the cost increase of the following: (a) steel, copper, concrete, dry wall, glass windows, (b) unexpected cost increase by Center Point electrical installation, (c) additional 5 adult class rooms.

With a project this size while facing increasing material costs, this cost overrun was low mainly due to the efforts of the constructor Atlantic Buildings and the close monitoring efforts by the Building Committee.

The building dedication was on June, 2013.

FBCC's Total Average Attendance Summary:
Startup - 452 people
1997 - 603 people
1998 - 682 people
1999 - 827 people
2000 - 917 - people
2001 - 973 people
2002 - 1026 people
2003 - 1064 people
2004 - 1201 people
2005 - 1236 people
2006 - 1213 people
2007 - 1168 people
2008 - 1168 people
2009 - 1240 people
2010 - 1262 people
2011 - 1289 people
2012 - 1336 people
2013 - 1418 people
2014 - 1449 people
2015 - 1459 people
2016 - 1471 people
2017 - 1568 people

To see a detailed report including the average attendances in each service, you can view this file: FBCC 20 Years Average Attendance.